What’s different about asthma in older adults

January 16, 2015 10:00 AM

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Asthma isn’t always thought of as a condition that affects our aging population. It’s true that the condition is most prevalent among children in America compared to any other age group, but the disparity isn’t as large as one might think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 9.3 percent of children have asthma compared to about 8 percent of adults. But that doesn’t mean asthma doesn’t pose serious health problems for that 8 percent— as well as other people who may be unaccounted for.

Most asthmatics are diagnosed as children or young adults, but asthma can strike at any time— even in your 70s or 80s. In fact, asthma may be more common in seniors than younger adults or children. That’s because it’s particularly difficult to diagnose in older people, and, as such, many seniors and...